Purple Crocus

March has never been that cold in Berlin for the last 130 years, that’s what they said in today’s papers. I can’t speak for 130 years but at least over the last 40 years I don’t remember searching (or – later in life – assisting the Easter bunny in hiding … 🙂 ) Easter eggs in ankle-deep snow myself.

However, there’s hope! See what I discovered in our garden today: New life!

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In this spirit, Happy Easter to all spring (and candy) lovers out there.

little yellow chicken

Dilly Tante inspired me today with those lovely chickens she found at Red Ted Art

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But as I can’t sew I spent the afternoon knitting a distant cousin. Here’s how: First, I would knit four traingles

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Then, I would knit the legs (i-Cord),; beak and crown are crocheted (Picot).

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Next, I would crochet the yellow triangles together, fill the little chicken and finally attach everything red. Little black beads make for the eyes.

chicken

yellow chicken

Paske-Strikk / Easter Knits

Hannah started it and as we had talked about the pattern earlier this week I just had to follow … Yes, she challenged me.

So tonight I spent the evening knitting an egg from the book  (Arne & Carlos: “Easter Knits” or “Paske-Strikk” respectively) and even a second one, though the latter would last for less than 5 minutes as I unravelled it right when it was done.

I knew it all along (and I have said that before): things that small and delicate are NOT for me. Neither little bunnies nor Easter eggs! Still, here is the egg with J (already in his PJs) holding it .

As always he would take the finished creation to his room. Good night egg.

Easter Egg

The Pouf

When I grew up in the 70s we would have ottomans in our living room. Back then, we would call them poufs though. I remember at least two: one was covered with bright red artificial leather, with tassels at each corner and Cleopatra in gold (no comments, please) all around. The other one was from Spain, checkered in brown and black, probably artificial leather too, showing a huge ranch brand on top.

They were there as long as I remember and consequently, when moving out, I would take the red one with me. Probably because it was convenient to have (and yes: no one else wanted it …)

In the 90s, I thought about having an old sofa redone and asked the upholsterer to do the Cleopatra pouf with the same drapery. Holding it at arm’s length, he did not approve but he would upholster it nonetheless and both, sofa and pouf, looked perfect together. However, soon thereafter I ended up storing the sofa at my parents’ as it was too uncomfortable for me to sit on. Way too high and somehow not suitable for everyday use. I took a picture for you to see what I mean:

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Can you imagine kids slouched on that sofa, or anyone curling up to watch a movie? At the same time, I would use the pouf excessively: to sit on it, to put my feet up, to place a tray on it, anything would work with it, and after 17 years of doing so you could tell: the top side was cracked, the fabric was badly worn, and the colors were faded.

As a matter of fact, those days when I would have furniture upholstered just like that are long gone (due to spending too much money on fiber craft maybe … 🙂 ), so I decided to re-cover the pouf myself. And that’s what I did!

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One square and four rectangles, joint with slip stitches, and a (mindless) pattern, consisting of four different rows (dc, nothing else)  that I would be willing to translate and post upon request.

Here is the link to the German pattern.

lovely egg cozy

It was probably right around Valentine’s day when the stores started selling Easter Chocolate, Easter eggs, Easter jelly beans and Easter candy. There were still another two months to go, but you would get all sorts of Easter decoration at the drug store and Easter greeting cards at the stationary shop. Easter EVERYWHERE! I did my best to ignore all of that until …

… I ran into Crazy Dazy’s  lovely Egg Cozies. And before I knew it I found myself in an armchair knitting a little bunny lady.

The pattern is easy to understand, anyone used to knit in rounds with four (or five) double-pointed knitting needles shouldn’t have a problem to follow. However, this little lady will stay single, a lone wolf … Knitting something that small, those tiny ears, embroidering the minuscule nose, and making a mini pom-pom is definitely not for me. Sadly!

Fortunately, Easter in our house is with hard boiled eggs that do not need a cozy 🙂 Consequently, the lady will either become a stuffed animal and live with the boy or move out …

Update in 2019: the pattern is no longer available for free. It can be bought at ravelry.